What India’s Rural Job Scheme Reform Means for Labour Protections

The rural job scheme that was known as Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or alternatively VB-G RAM G is in place of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Proclaimed in late 2025, this reform is intended to be implemented by April 2026 and will see 125 days of wage employment per rural household, an increase over 100 days. Some of the key changes are the division of work into water security, rural infrastructure, livelihood support, disaster resilience and the need of states to pay 40% of expenses. These changes aim to boost efficiency but spark debates on labour protections amid centralization.

Labour Protections in VB-G RAM G

The scheme still has some fundamental protections such as unemployment allowances in case work is not offered in the 15 days. Nevertheless, augmented state funding liabilities, 40% to major states, 10% of northeastern ones could put implementations under strain, which could diminish real protections. The centralized planning of PM Gati Shakti will decrease the flexibility at the local level, which is worrying in terms of bottom-up demands.

Impacts on Rural Workers

Reforms are assured of increased employment and facilities towards Viksit Bharat objectives with 2025-26 budgetary allocations reaching record highs of close to 1.9 lakh crore. Diluted guarantees are feared by critics who believe that states are more concerned about fiscal limits rather than employee rights when the 100 percent coverage of wage under Centre is replaced.